Infant feeding device



Sept. 23, 1969 w. H. WELCH 3,468,445

INFANT FEEDING DEVICE Filed Aug. 18, 1967 24 v w 1 Q22 arm M MgM UnitedStates Patent US. Cl. 215-11 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Aninfant feeding device assembly including a nipple having air vent holestherein adjacent the finish of the container and provided with flappervalves to seal the vent holes to prevent leakage of the fluid containedwithin the feeding unit assembly. The assembly also includes aprotective cap or shroud structure including a retaining ring whichclamps and secures the assembly together. The protective cap covers thenipple during the storage period and is fitted to the assembly in such amanner that it compresses the portion of the nipple containing the ventsto positively close them and seal the assembly until it is to be used.

Background of the invention The present invention relates to a novelnipple structure for use with a feeding bottle or container assembly.

In the prior art, it has been found that infant feeding devices whichinclude feeding nipples require means to vent the interior of thecontainer to the atmosphere exterior of the container to equalizepressure therebetween to afiord a regular and easy liquid flow.Otherwise, as the child sucks on the nipple and draws the fluid from thecontainer, a vacuum will be formed within the container causing thenipple to collapse and interrupt the flow of fluid from the container.This situation will frustrate the child, cause excessive sucking, anddisrupt the otherwise normal and enjoyable feeding experience.

Vents have been previously provided in infant feeding nipples, such asan arrangement which utilizes the clearance between the retaining ringand the bottle and the nipple structure to allow outside air to passtherebetween. Such arrangements require manual manipulation of theretaining ring to open and close the venting means. An example of thistype of structure is found in U.S. Patent No. 2,982,432, granted to R.M. Mehl. Other venting arrangements which are part of the nipple havealso been used, which vents have been located inwardly of the finish ofthe bottle.

With the increasing demand of mothers for convenience foods, it isdesirable to have infant formulas commercially available in retail storeoutlets in sealed containers capable of storage in compact spaces forlong periods of time. These containers must be designed to provide anentire infant feeding device including a disposable dispenser containerand nipple unit which are maintained under sterile condition while instorage and which must be so constructed as to remain completely sealedand allow no leakage of the fluid therein. Also, when they are to beused, such completely disposable feeding units must provide the requiredventing means for optimum feeding conditions.

Summary of the invention In accordance with the present invention, thereis provided a novel nipple structure having integral venting means whichwill be effective at all times to prevent the collapsing of the nippledue to pressure reduction within the feeding bottle assembly as thevolume of fluid is withdrawn from the container by the infant. The novelnipple structure includes integral venting means which is locatedoutwardly of the bottle finish and requires no manipulation oradjustment prior to or during the feeding process. The novel nipplestructure when used in combination with the protective cap or shroud andthe retaining rlng means for clamping the assembly together will haveits vents sealed and protected prior to its being used.

The structure by which the above advantages and obects of the inventionwill be obtained is fully described in the following specification,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing illustrativeembodiments of the invention, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the feeding unitassembly shown in a closed or sealed position for storage; FIGURE 2 is afragmentary sectional view of the feeding unit assembly shown in FIGURE1 with the protective cap or shroud removed from the assembly and thefeeding unit ready for use;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the feeding unit assemblyhaving a modified form of nipple structure, which assembly is shown inthe closed or sealed condition for storage; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the modified feeding unitassembly shown in FIGURE 3 with the protective cap or shroud removed andthe feeding unit ready for use.

As shown in the drawings, FIGURES 1 and 2, the assembly includes abottle or container 10, a nipple 12, and a unitary protective cap orshroud and retaining ring assembly indicated generally by the numeral14.

The bottle 10 has a neck portion 16 and an open end defined by anannular edge 18, conventionally known as the bottle finish. Theconstruction of the container or bottle is generally conventional andwill not be discussed further, except to note that the outer peripheryof the neck portion 16 has an annular ridge or bead 20. The ridge orbead 20 may be in the form of a helical screw thread of at least oneturn extending around the neck 16 or as a continuous coplanar head. Theuse of either of these two common constructions will depend on theconstruction of the clamping or retaining ring, which in the presentembodiment is a portion of the assembly shown generally at 14.

The retaining cap and clamping ring assembly indicated by the numeral14, in the present construction, is unitary and comprises a generallycylindrically shaped dome 22 having a closed end 24, depending sidewalls26, an outwardly extending annular shoulder or flange 28, and an annulardepending skirt portion 30. The annular skirt 30 terminates at the pointof connection to a retaining or clamping ring 32. The connection of theskirt 30 of the protective cap 22 to the retaining ring 32 is bysuitable means such as frangible connect-ions (not shown) which can bereadily severed when the feeding unit is readied for use.

The retaining ring 32 comprises an inwardly extending annular flange 34,a depending annular skirt 36, and an inwardly extending annular flange38. In the illustrated embodiment, the flange 38 is crimped to embracethe lower edge of the bead or ridge 20 to maintain and secure thefeeding unit assembly.

The novel nipple structure shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 is made ofconventional rubber material, or the like, and has a teat portion 40defining at least one feeding aperture 42 located at the end thereof.The nipple is hollow and has an outwardly flaring annular lower port-ion44, an outwardly extending annular base portion including an annularflange 46, an annular vertical sidewall 48, and a larger diameter baseflange 50. The base flange 50 is seated and sealingly engages the upperedge surface of the head or ridge 20 of the bottle and is securedthereto 3 by the inwardly extending flange 34 after retaining orclamping ring 42.

On the inner periphery of the annular vertically extending sidewall 48of the nipple 12, there is provided an inwardly extending annular flangeor shoulder 52 which forms with the inner periphery of wall 48 anannular recess 54 providing a flow path over the bottle finish 18. Apair of vent holes are formed in a downwardly extending wall portion 48of the nipple adjacent the shoulder 50 of the base flange of the nippleand extend therethrough. These vent holes, indicated by the numeral 56,when unlocked are designed to allow air to pass from the exterior of thenipple to the recess 54 on the inside of the nipple and through it tothe interior of the container to prevent a vacuum from being formedtherein.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a smallflexible upwardly extending projection 58 adjacent the vent holes 56 inthe recess 54 which serves as flapper valves. These valves are designedto permit the ingress of air through the vent voles when a partialvacuum is created within the container. They also act to seal the ventholes when the pressure is equalized between the inside and outside ofthe bottle to seal the feeding unit from leakage of the fluid. There isone flapper valve 58 for every vent hole 56, as can be seen in FIGURE 1,which illustrates two diametrically opposed vent holes and flappervalves in the compressed or storage position.

Also, it will be noted in FIGURES 1 and 2 that there is provided anannular disk 60 which is located in an annular recess portion 62 of anipple 12 immediately above the internal flange 52. When the assembly isas shown in FIGURE 1, the disk 60 provides a seal between the containerand the teat portion of the nipple to prevent liquid from flowing intothe teat portion and out through the opening 40 into the space betweenthe shroud 14 and nipple. It will be noted that the disk has formedtherein a series of grooves 64 to allow for the passage of fluid fromthe container 10 to the hollow portion of the nipple 12 during thefeeding process as shown in feeding position illustrated in FIGURE 2.The structure of the disk is not a part of the present invention andcould be made in many forms, For example, a series of notches could becut in the outer circumferential edge of the disk or holes could beprovided in the disk, which holes would be closed by the nipple when theshroud was on the bottle.

The nipple structure shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 is similar to thearrangement shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, except that no disk is employedand the shoulder 46 and recess 62 have been eliminated.

One further modification of the nipple structure shown in FIGURES 3 and4 relates to the disposition and arrangement of the flapper valves forthe vent holes 56. In this particular embodiment, the flapper valves 66depend from the lower surface of the internal annular shoulder 52,rather than extending upwardly, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The valves66 otherwise operate in the same manner as valves 58 discussed in detailabove.

In operation, it will be seen in FIGURE 1 that the unitary protectivecap and clamping ring 14 compress the shoulder 46 against the sealingdisk 60 and further compress the internal parts of the nipple structure,and the vertical sidewall 48 so that the vent holes 56 are closed andthe inwardly extending annular shoulder 52 is sealingly engaged againstthe upper edge 18 of the finish and the recess 54 is filled with thecompressed nipple material. In this position, the valves 58 arecompressed between the sidewall 49 of the nipple and the bottle finish18. When the feeding unit is prepared for use, the protective cap 22 isdeformed enough to sever it from its frangible connections to theretaining or clamping ring 32 and removed from the feeding unit so as toallow the nipple to expand and assume its relaxed feeding position. Whenthe shroud is removed and the nipple is in the position in FIGURE 2, thevent holes are open and the recess 54 is free to allow air communicationtherethrough. As the infant sucks and draws the fluid from the bottle,the flapper valves 58 or 66 will open allowing the ingress of airthrough vent holes 56, into the recess 54, over the bottle finish 18, tothe interior of the container 10, thus equalizing the pressure betweeninside and outside of the bottle. In other words, air replaces thevolume of fluid removed from the container during the feeding process,and prevents a vacuum from forming within the feeding unit.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the operation is essentiallyidentical. The cap 22 is removed from the clamping ring 32 and thenipple 12 expands to the position shown in FIGURE 4. Thus, the dependingvalve 66 will respond in the same manner as the fluid is withdrawn fromthe container.

It will be seen that under normal conditions, with the feeding unitsshown in the positions of FIGURES 2 and 4, the pressure conditionsinside and outside of the container are equalized. The flapper valves 58and 66 are disposed against the inside of the nipple wall 49 to closethe vent holes 56, to prevent fluid leakage therethrough.

As the infant feeds and the fluid flows from the container, a suction iscreated which will cause the resilient flapper valves 58 and 66 to moveinwardly, thereby opening the vents 56 and permitting a passage of airinto the container to eliminate the possibility of a vacuum being formedtherein. Of course, it will be realized that fluid cannot flow out ofthe vents 56 because the suction condition within the can causes onlyinward flow of air. As soon as the pressure conditions are equalized,the flapper valves again move against the internal wall of the recess 54to close the vents.

Although the invention has been described by making a detailed referenceto two embodiments of the invention, such detail is to be understood asinstructive, rather than in a restrictive sense, as many details of theconstruction may be modified or changed without departing from spirit orthe scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A feeding bottle assembly comprising a bottle having a neck portionincluding an annular bead and an open end defined by an annular outerperipheral surface, an annular inner surface, and an annular finishportion therebetween, a nipple encircling the outer peripheral surfaceof said neck portion, the nipple having a teat portion at one endthereof and an open end portion at the opposite end thereof defined byan outwardly extending annular flange, means for sealing the outwardlyextending annular nipple flange to said annular bead, the nipple alsoincluding an integral annular vertical wall disposed outwardly of saidouter peripheral surface between said teat portion and said outwardlyextending annular flange and defining vent means therethrough, anannular inwardly extending flange formed on the interior of said nippleand disposed between said teat portion and said vent means, the annularinwardly extending flange positioned adjacent said bottle finish,flapper valve means secured to the lower surface of the annular inwardlyextending flange and disposed outwardly of the outer peripheral surfaceadjacent the inner end of said vent means to control the flow throughsaid vent means, means for closing said valve means and for sealing thelower surface of the annular inwardly extending flange against theannular finish portion to seal the bottle against leakage, which lastmentioned means when released will permit the nipple to move to thefeeding position, whereby as the fluid is removed from the containerthrough said teat portion of the nipple air will flow through said ventmeans past said flapper valve between the bottle neck portion and theinternal wall of the vertically extending annular wall of said nipple,and over the top of the bottle finish into the interior of the bottlewhile preventing the leakage of fluid out of said bottle.

2. A feeding bottle assembly comprising a bottle having a neck portionincluding an annular bead an an open end defined by an annular outerperipheral surface, an annular inner surface, and an annular finishportion therebetween, a nipple encircling the outer peripheral surfaceof said neck portion, the nipple having a teat portion at one endthereof and an open end portion at the opposite end thereof defined byan outwardly extending annular flange, means for sealing the outwardlyextending annular nipple flange to said annular bead, the nipple alsoincluding an integral annular vertical wall disposed outwardly of saidouter peripheral surface between said teat portion and said outwardlyextending annular flange and defining vent means therethrough, anannular inwardly extending flange formed on the interior of said nippleand disposed between said teat portion and said vent means, the annularinwardly extending flange positioned adjacent said bottle finish,flapper valve means secured to the internal surface of the annularvertically extending wall adjacent to and extending upwardly andoverlying the vent means formed in the wall and disposed outwardly ofsaid outer peripheral surface adjacent the inner end of said vent meansto control the flow through said vent means, means for closing saidvalve means and for sealing the lower surface of the annular inwardlyextending flange against the annular finish portion to seal the bottleagainst leakage, which last mentioned means when released will permitthe nipple to move then to the feeding position, whereby as the fluid isremoved from the container through said teat portion of the nipple airwill flow through said vent means past said flapper valve between thebottle neck portion and the internal Wall of the vertically extendingannular wall of said nipple, and over the top of the bottle finish intothe interior of the bottle while preventing leakage of fluid out of saidbottle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,720,328 10/ 1955 Clemens.3,335,890 8/1967 Grundmann 2l5--11 3,358,864 12/1967 Meierhoefer 2l51lGEORGE E. LOWRANCE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 128252

